Thread: Best Straight for $150-250.00 Straight Razor suggestions. What do you think??

Hi,
Firstly You guys are very insightful and I would love to know what you all think.I am looking for a straight razor for ~ $150 - 250. There are so many out there that are beautiful however my main focus right now is finding the best straight out there for the price I can afford. I want a blade that will last me a very long time,give a great cut and wont let me down. Im willing to trade history for quality if you will and hopefully get a nice looking blade in the end. Anybody have anything for me? Suggestions?

I very much appreciate your suggestions,insight and time




Trevor Miller
TrevorMillerDirector.com

Welcome aboard mate! It's matter of preference. As of now Japanese straights are best for me. Check OLD_SCHOOL's thread

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Don't forget to check out the Classifieds as there's several members here who have shave-ready razors for sale and in remarkable condition. Trust that I too purchased my razors from Classifieds. I don't know you and not sure if straight razor may not be for you. I remember awhile back one member wanting a Japanese straight so bad. He finally got one and decided it wasn't for him. He still straight shaves but Japanese straight wasn't for him. Perhaps it was too hard. That's beside the point.

I don't know if you have all that money to blow but at same time I wouldn't want fellow brother to waste his money on something that might not be suitable. Only you will know that. In essence, it doesn't matter if Japanese works best for me or these other brands. The bottom line is they have to work for you and fit your style of shaving. Your face and style is different form rest of us. There's myriad of razor styles, grinds to name few and therein lies steel, scale, weight differences etc...

If you must go through ebay, get the cheap ones you can practice stropping/honing on the $20-$30. Even the latter can be had from Classifieds that's even better than one's at auction. Best of luck

Dear Robert,

Originally Posted by TexasBob

I just got that razor and find it a bit hard to shave with. I think it is the thumb notch design (i.e. narrow waist), with a tapered spine at that point and no jimps.

So you own a 1/4 hollow Grelot, but have difficulty using the Dovo? How peculiar.

Originally Posted by TexasBob

The razor wants to flop back and forth so it takes a great deal of concentration to keep it at the desired angle -- kind of a balancing act.

Three things that come to mind:

1. You lack experience.
2. Your hands are wet (see 1. above for details)
3. The razor was honed by an amateur and doesn't shave like it should, thereby requiring you to apply too much pressure (see 1. above for details).

May I ask who honed it?

Originally Posted by TexasBob

Do you have experience with this razor and any thoughts on this? I was considering wrapping it with some sort of cloth-backed or rubberized tape to give it a more positive grip.

Oh, I do indeed. And I have no problems whatsoever using it. Quite the contrary, in fact.

Originally Posted by TexasBob

Oh, yes, It is advertised as 6/8 but I measure it as 13/16.

That's because all new Dovo's are POS' [sic!] Being a well respected member of B&B, you should really know better than to listen to a Dovo sales rep like myself.

Originally Posted by TexasBob

EDIT: I also find it hard to strop for the same reasons listed above and put a nick in my TM strop.

That's why we advise beginners to not invest too heavily into strops.

Kind regards,
Robin

Originally Posted by BeBerlin

So you own a 1/4 hollow Grelot, ...

Nope.

1. You lack experience.
2. Your hands are wet (see 1. above for details)
3. The razor was honed by an amateur and doesn't shave like it should, thereby requiring you to apply too much pressure (see 1. above for details).

May I ask who honed it?

I guess we all could always use a bit more experience.
I keep my hands dry.
Probably not honed by an amateur but you would need to ask Don or Lynn.

That's because all new Dovo's are POS' [sic!] Being a well respected member of B&B, you should really know better than to listen to a Dovo sales rep like myself.

Never said it was a POS. And I will take your advice with a grain of salt.

That's why we advise beginners to not invest too heavily into strops.

Haven't nicked a strop in months -- until I had trouble getting a grip on the Bismark.

Well, well, well. Isn't it remarkable how it is always senior (as in "maximum amount of posts in a minimum of time", not "experienced") B&B members who end up having idiosyncratic problems with Dovo razors?

Let me put it this way: This is SRP, as in Straight Razor Place. Not Bigotry & Bile. If you feel the urgent need to slander a manufacturer, feel free to do so back home. After all, Joel of Chronik not only condones but actively encourages such behaviour.

Oh, yeah, I don't have a shaving store ("I know if I had a shaving store - I would want to implement a rule here on B&B to protect myself and other vendors and help me make more money... wouldn't you do the same?"), either.

Originally Posted by BeBerlin

If you feel the urgent need to slander a manufacturer, feel free to do so back home.

I don't understand this.

Are you saying that because I have trouble using a razor I am somehow slandering the manufacturer?

If you mean I am slandering the honing job, you are the one who implied a problem with that.

Originally Posted by TexasBob

I don't understand this.

Let me help you understand then: The Dovo Bismarck is being used by several members here. None of them have reported the problems you claim to have. Which makes yours idiosyncratic. Just like the alleged problem the colourful J*el expressed in his memorable post about all new Dovo's being POS' (his grammatical idiosyncrasies, not mine). And then there is a whole bunch of sycophants who also claim (but, with the credible exception of Seraphim, always fail to deliver proof) that their Dovos are faulty, evil, or otherwise disturb their karma. But, as they say, if you lie down with dogs, you'll rise with fleas.

I hope this helps.

Regards,
Robin

Originally Posted by TexasBob

Robin,

I just got that razor and find it a bit hard to shave with. I think it is the thumb notch design (i.e. narrow waist), with a tapered spine at that point and no jimps. The razor wants to flop back and forth so it takes a great deal of concentration to keep it at the desired angle -- kind of a balancing act. Do you have experience with this razor and any thoughts on this? I was considering wrapping it with some sort of cloth-backed or rubberized tape to give it a more positive grip.

Oh, yes, It is advertised as 6/8 but I measure it as 13/16.

EDIT: I also find it hard to strop for the same reasons listed above and put a nick in my TM strop.

4/8 = 8/16
5/8 = 10/16
6/8 = 12/16
etc...

Was it a practice strop that you nicked? Otherwise, Tony does offer practice strops as well as Ruprazor.

you are asking tough question. If you want to spend your money which will bring you more money in long run i would be agre e 100% with beberlin.buy 2 razors from srd and you set forevere. Now if you are looking for best shaver in range of 250.00 that is a different .there a lot more options out there. Many ti .dd wondereedge.so on son

Simply put, buy a Filarmonica. You will experience a shave like no other. ........................ Tell me I was wrong after you buy one..............
I have two and can't wait until they roll into my rotation. My barber is 75 years old from Venezuela and shaves with a Filarmonica everyday. He swears by the Filly..........

Get one... Jerry